About Ponca Hills Farm

Founded in 1964, Ponca Hills Farm continues its proud tradition of "Horse, Riders and Learning" today. On-site training, clinics with the country's top professionals and a popular schooling show series help riders reach their competitive goals and enjoy horse ownership and horse community to its fullest.

Ponca's Beginnings

Established in 1964 by J. Allan and Ann Mactier, Ponca Hills Farm was conceived with the idea that living in the Midwest shouldn't preclude riders from competing on show circuits long dominated by the coasts. The Mactier's built the first indoor riding arena in Nebraska, and designed a spacious heated barn that would allow horses and riders to continue schooling through cold Nebraska winters.

Over the years, many Hunter/Jumper champions were produced at Ponca, showing under the farm's sky blue and grass green colors at Devon, Harrisburg, Madison Square Garden, the Washington International, and Palm Beach.

In 1972 Jan's champion Jumper, Christopher Robin, was selected for the Olympic Show Jumping team, and shipped to Munich with William Steinkraus.

In the Winner's Circle

In the 70's and 80's, a night out in Omaha was likely to include dinner at one of a dozen packed steakhouses, and an evening of thoroughbred racing at Aksarben.

The opportunity to cheer one's bloodstock across the finish a few miles from home inspired J. Allan Mactier to breed sales yearlings and enter his horses in races at Aksarben and Churchill Downs. His Nureyev filly, Sonic Lady, sold in 1984 at Fasig-Tipton to Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum of Dubai. Sonic Lady went on to be named European Filly of the Year in 1986.

Host to the National Pony Club Rally

Seeing an opportunity to help children learn about horses, Ann Mactier founded the Omaha chapter of Pony Club, offering Ponca Hills Farm as a meeting place and learning center. Ponca became the site of regional rallies, and was selected as the National Rally Site in 1971. In preparation, former USEF Eventing chef-d'équipe Jack LeGoff designed the competition course, taking advantage of Ponca's steep hills, open meadows and woodlands.

Today, many of LeGoff's original fences have been refurbished, and the course continues to expand. Over 50 elements, including banks and water complexes, comprise three courses with options from beginner novice to preliminary.

George Morris and Ponca

As Jan Mactier rose through the ranks of amateur riders in the 1970's and 1980's, she began training with former Olympian George Morris.

Morris made a lasting impact on Jan's riding philosophy and on Ponca Hills Farm itself. Although Jan retired from competition in 1985, capping her career with many A/O Jumper championships, Morris continued to visit Ponca as a clinician. His student and West Coast protegé Karen Heally took over for several years when Morris became much in demand at the international level.

In the late '90s, Heally's then assistant Archie Cox came as a last minute fill-in, and was an instant hit with students. He's since become one of the most in demand Hunter/Jumper trainers in the country. In addition to Archie Cox, Ponca has hosted many luminaries from the Hunter/Jumper, Dressage and Eventing disciplines, including Gordon Wright, Melanie Smith, Jim Wofford, Michael Paige, Christine Bachman, Lowell Boomer, Thady Ryan, Jim Graham and Benjamin Lundquist.

Ponca Hills Farm Today

Today, Jan Mactier Moriarty continues to realize her father's founding vision for the farm. Under Jan's guidance since 2004 Ponca remains an active barn with boarders who both compete and ride for pleasure on Ponca's extensive trails.

The Ponca School Program teaches students of all ages the fundamentals of correct riding. Top clinicians such as Canadian show jumper Karen Cudmore and Idaho-based hunter trainer Tom Ordway, frequently visit Ponca, drawing participants from around the region. Ponca Hills Farm Summer Camp, established by Ann Mactier in 1965 continues to offer education, riding instruction and fun to dozens of area youth every June and July.

The farm itself has undergone major improvements and conservation efforts led by Mick Moriarty. Mick has spent hundreds of weekend hours refurbishing cross country elements, building new obstacles, controlling erosion and maintaining native plants.

A hack through the Ponca trails in any season provides a show of wildflowers and wildlife that we thank Mick for helping to preserve!